Buffalo Bills News - November 20, 2001

Slow start in games a headache for Bills [5:55 AM]D and C reports:
'After Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the Bills are being outscored an alarming 62-16 in the first 15 minutes and 66-20 in the first 15 minutes after halftime.'

Nobody's perfect in today's NFL [5:53 AM]Miami Herald reports:
'Still, it isn't necessarily true Fiedler has to get better because he's in his second year as a starter. Hard truth: some get worse the longer they play. With Fiedler, you take more chances because he's going to keep taking the big swing.'

No turnover at quarterback [5:50 AM]Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel reports:
'"No," he said. "Jay is the starter, and I've got confidence that he will get [the turnovers] corrected this week. I'm counting on him, just like everybody else is. I'm expecting it to be corrected."'

Gardener won't need back surgery [5:49 AM]Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel reports:
'Dolphins defensive tackle Daryl Gardener received good news on his sore back but still likely will miss Sunday's game at Buffalo.'

November 19, 2001

Bills inspire apathy, early exits [1:40 PM]Niagara Falls Reporter reports:
'While some will gush over Van Pelt's acumen in running the West Coast Offense that so bewildered and ultimately broke Rob Johnson, the Bills provided no evidence Sunday that the final seven games will be much less tedious than the first nine.'

Kelly took us on one hell of a ride [1:38 PM]Niagara Falls Reporter reports:
'Before, during and following their four-year control of the AFC, Kelly was the Bills. Once the Super Bowls stopped being an annual entitlement, the dynasty slowly declined with him.'

Bills' comeback signs premature [1:35 PM]Olean Times Herald reports:
'Seattle' performance Sunday was hardly perfect. The Seahawks'defense was shredded for 316 passing yards from Alex Van Pelt, a quarterback who hadn't started an NFL game since 1997. Seattle also had to recover an onsides kick in the last two minutes to beat a team that's won just once. But in the NFL, a win is a win.

Bills' notebook [1:33 PM]Olean Times Herald reports:
'With a fourth quarter catch, fullback Larry Centers who finished wit 66 receiving yards on the game, now has 6,093 for his career, passing former Bill Ronnie Harmon (6,068). Centers has become the NFL's all-time leader in receiving yards by a running back.'

MMBQ: Focus on the playoffs [12:35 PM]CNN/SI reports:
Peter King on RJ: "I think Rob Johnson (shoulder) will not play football again this year. The Bills' management team of Tom Donahoe and Gregg Williams , after watching Johnson play for half a season, might have otherwise had a tough decision on whether to re-do the quarterback's contract over the long term. But it won't be so tough. Donahoe's a believer."

5th Down: Kelly's Crusade [11:02 AM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
Yesterday, the retired wide receiver returned to Orchard Park to watch his former quarterback, Jim Kelly, get inducted onto the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame. Feats like yardage marks and touchdown records are what got Kellys name on the wall. But Lofton, who must have had Plato in his hands, molded the day into something much larger. "Look at a football player", he said, "and you see a narrow strip of a man."

Seahawks first win in Buffalo [10:53 AM]Seahawks.com reports:
The Hawks take a 23-20 win, their first ever in Buffalo in two appearances, and hand the Bills their fifth-straight loss at home this season, and seventh dating back to last season.

Back in the hunt [10:51 AM]Tacoma News Tribune reports:
'The Seahawks' front four failed to mount a significant pass rush most of the game, but Michael Sinclair came up big with the game on the line. Sinclair teamed with linebacker Chad Brown to sack Alex Van Pelt, forcing a fourth-quarter fumble that sailed into the arms of defensive tackle Antonio Cochran. The turnover led directly to the clinching field goal.'

Alexander scores winning TD as Seahawks down Buffalo [10:05 AM]CBS Sportsline reports:
The Bills (1-8) lost sloppily and are off to their worst start in 16 years. They've also lost seven straight at home -- their longest stretch since dropping eight straight from 1983-84. Van Pelt showed flashes of efficiency in making his first start in four years, finishing 28-for-42 for a career-high 316 yards passing and two TDs.

Bills honor former QB [9:13 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'"He was the focus of our team. He was the catalyst. He was great in the clutch."'

Alexander merely good vs. Bills [9:12 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'The Bills have allowed six running backs to reach the 100-yard barrier this season so limiting the production of the second-year pro out of Alabama was significant.'

Costly mistakes spoil special day for Buffalo [5:43 AM]D and C reports:
'Throw in some remarkable November weather and a very beatable opponent in the Seattle Seahawks and you had to think that if ever there was a game this band of Bills was destined to win, this was the one. Think again.'

Retiring No. 12 tops all honors [5:42 AM]D and C reports:
'It was the surprise retirement of his jersey, the first time in the 41-year history of the franchise a number was officially taken out of circulation. It wasn't Simpson or Shaw or Sestak that moved owner Ralph Wilson to break club policy. It was Kelly. And fittingly so.'

Speak to us Eric, we will listen [5:41 AM]D and C reports:
'Eric Moulds is finding out that being the highest-paid player in Bills history carries significant responsibility. Lately, Moulds hasn't been very responsible.'